The RFGA assists applicants in applying for and managing state grants. This document describes the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) grant program, including information on who may apply for funding, the funding priorities for the federal Fiscal Year 2018 grant round, match requirements, activities eligible for funding, and other information that will help applicants plan their project and submit a competitive application.

This addendum shall become part of the RFGA and is to be submitted with the Request for Grant Application Response.

Grant application questions and answers

This is the agency’s most current list of questions and answers and addendums about the federal fiscal year 2018 DERA grant. This is the only source of questions and answers and addendums. It is an applicant’s responsibility to check the MPCA website for the most current information regarding a grant, including questions and answers or addendums.

Q & A period extended. Applicants who have any questions regarding this RFGA must email questions to grants.pca@state.mn.us, subject line: “DERA Grant 2018”, no later than 2:30 p.m. Central Time on Friday, January 12, 2018. All questions and answers will be posted by 4:30pm Central Time on Wednesday, January 17, 2018.

MPCA personnel are not authorized to discuss this RFGA with applicants. Contact regarding this RFGA with any MPCA personnel may result in disqualification.

Q1: I have a question about whether my project would qualify for this grant. I drive a bus that operates as a Bookmobile. It has both a diesel engine and a diesel-powered generator. We are looking to replace the generator within the next year and the motor in the future with more environmentally friendly models. We use more than 1200 gallons of fuel per year. I am not sure what vehicle class it is or whether the generator could be replaced using this grant or if it would have to be the engine only.
A1: Regarding the diesel bus engine, the vehicle class is determined by the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). The grant eligibility guidelines relating to this are in Category 3 section 3B on page 10 and 11. Classes 5-8 are eligible. Minimum GVWR 16,001 lbs. Regarding the diesel generator, see Section 3B under non-road diesel equipment; which mentions minimum 51 HP and minimum 500 hours of operation per year.

Q2: For Section 3 of the spreadsheet, under “estimated life of replacement”, is that the estimated life of the vehicle being replaced or estimated life of the new vehicle? Proposal Form Instruction only reads “For ENGINE REPOWER AND EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT PROJECTS ONLY, enter the number of years the new replacement”
A2: We are trying to learn how many years that a new, replaced engine/vehicle will remain in operation.

Q3: Regarding the grant period for the 2018 DERA Grant: Is there a defined calendar window during which the approved projects would need to be completed and invoiced by in order to receive their associated grant, if they were awarded a grant? I didn’t see a defined calendar window identified in the grant documentation.
A3: See the application form under “Project Information” the line under Project title: All project must be completed by September 30, 2018.

Q4: Regarding an on-road diesel-to-CNG engine replacement project. Under the eligibility requirements, is it only the diesel replacement engine that needs to be model year (MY) 2017 or newer? Or does a CNG engine also have to be 2017 or newer? For instance, if they were looking to convert and replace an on-road diesel engine with a MY 2015 CNG, would that be eligible for funding at the 40% level?
A4: It should be a new (unused) 2017 engine or newer. Engines older than 2017 would require EPA approval.

Q5: Can you apply for more than one vehicle project?
A5: Yes, you can submit multiple projects. We score projects separately.

Q6: Would a new 2016 compressed natural gas vehicle that is in stock work for the DERA grant?
A6: The language of the DERA Request for Grant Applications says that replacement engines/vehicles must be 2017 or newer. Anything older than 2017 would require approval from EPA.

Q7: For the fleet information spreadsheet, do you want all the equipment/ vehicles owned entered or only the equipment impacted by the project? The spreadsheet title is “fleet” however, section 3 refers to “project”.
A7: Section 3 on the Fleet Information Spreadsheet (p-f3-23-fy18) requests just the “Current vehicle or equipment information for projects listed on the application.” We are not asking for an applicant’s entire fleet.

Tough love for old diesels. Part of the DERA grant requirements include disabling the old engine and/or vehicle chassis when they are replaced. A hole must be cut into the old engine block, rendering it inoperative. If an entire truck is replaced, the frame must also be cut to discourage someone from buying it and installing an old high-polluting engine. The grantee can keep vehicle parts and any income from scrapping the engine or vehicle.